Berreta Billenium?

Very sharp gun! I just caught a review of it in a gun rag and that baby looks really sharp. I even noticed that the thumbsafety/decocker is in a very nice location, ala the 1911.

The rollmarks are interesting and different, and I like that. What I don't understand, though, is what is a billenium? I've heard of milleniums, but never a billenium. Anyone care to share some info? Anyone bought one yet?

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Jim Watson

March 23, 2003, 10:05 AM

That is not a decocker. The Billennium is single action only and has a proper thumb safety that does nothing else.

The gun is all steel and weighs 45.8 oz empty. Has the handling characteristics of a small anvil, worse than the steel Sig Sauers.

If they had put that safety and trigger on a standard weight gun I might have been interested, but after I picked one up, I wasn't.

I don't know the etymology of the model name.

CTgunteacher

March 23, 2003, 10:11 AM

Vaughn,

I haven't shot one, but I handled one in a gun shop just yesterday.

- "Feel" is pretty much identical to a standard 92, big grip and all. A lot heavier, though.
- Sights are okay but certainly not outstanding.
- The big ambi safety paddles are nice and work quite smoothly -- much better than the slide mounted flapper. (Felt a little like a Taurus, actually. :p)
- The SA trigger on the sample was nothing special. Long take-up, creep, moderately weighted (I'd guess it at about 6 pounds). The CZ75B my girlfriend bought the same day has a much better SA pull.
- Pimpy-looking to my eye, but that's obviously subjective.

I'm sure it will be accurate and exhibit the usual Beretta 92 reliability.

The shop had it marked for about $1100. Seems like a very steep price for what you get. Another $200 will buy a new HKP7M8, if you can stomach buying German. My GF paid less than $400 for her two-tone CZ, which included a "high-cap" mag.

I'm not sure what "Billenium" means, but I suspect it's something like shorthand for "Beretta for the Millenium." I could be wrong, of course.

Mike

berettaman

March 23, 2003, 10:42 AM

Beretta+Millenium=Billenium!:D:D:D

Jeff OTMG

March 23, 2003, 03:16 PM

I have a Billenium, the only Beretta I own. The name came from a combination of things. I was made in 2000 only and 2000 of them were produced. 1000 for the U.S. market, 1000 for the rest of the world. It is a great pistol and should be the gun in its' class for IDPA shooting. The only downside, if it fits your hand, is that you must endure taunts from friends referring to it as 'a crew served Beretta' due to the weight. Still a nice pistol and major 'oo' factor. There is going to be a 'Billeniumized' Vertec for those with smaller hands. Check out my report from the SHOT Show this year in the Beretta paragraph http://www.shotshowreports.com/2003pg1.html

10-Ring

March 23, 2003, 03:23 PM

I was interested in a steel framed 92 a while back. Almost bought a Taurus, but thought better of it. The steel Vertec might be worth checking out...if they make it into the PRK!

Schuey2002

March 23, 2003, 03:30 PM

A certain Tactical, Black n' White critter should be stopping by this post soon.:D

Skunkabilly

March 23, 2003, 05:50 PM

Billenium, year 2000 = two millenia = one billenium?

I don't think the weight is a problem, some guys end up putting tung guiderods and bull barrels in steel 1911s, I can see where a heavy Beretta would be handy.

I like the aggressive frontstrap checkering, but I don't like the shiny finish as much as the matte of the Elite II, and I like my custom carbon fiber grips better, and I prefer a circumsized barrel a la Vertec and Elite series.

Still, I saw one over the weekend and really liked it. Cocked and locked, steel frame and carbon fiber grips. A skunk's gun. Only reason I didn't buy it is I was in Arizona :banghead:

Jim Watson

March 23, 2003, 06:41 PM

Jeff,

It's too heavy for IDPA. Max empty weight for ESP is 43 oz, the Billennium is cataloged at 45.8.

Is the iron Vertec any lighter?

There are a few Beretta 92/96 Stock guns around with SA & thumb safe on standard aluminum alloy frames.

faustulus

March 23, 2003, 08:46 PM

'a crew served Beretta' :D
Hadn't heard that one.

If the guide rod is steel you may be able to shave some ounces using a hollow steel or aluminium.

Jeff OTMG

March 24, 2003, 11:58 PM

Now why would the IDPA people pick a number like 43 oz? Could it be that they didn't want any competition for the 1911's?

Jim Watson

March 25, 2003, 12:22 AM

IDPA classes were defined in 1996.
The Billennium was made in 2000.
1911 bias or not, if Beretta had wanted to get the Billennium into IDPA ESP, they had four years to get it to make weight. The Stock guns already did, but I don't think I have ever seen one being shot.

faustulus

March 25, 2003, 12:38 AM

Now why would the IDPA people pick a number like 43 oz? Could it be that they didn't want any competition for the 1911's?

I got a usp .45 just to compete in CDP :p

Templehall

April 18, 2003, 11:14 PM

I just shot one of these last weekend.

The owner absolutely loves the weight of this gun. The heavy weight, combined with 9mm, makes for a very manageable recoil. His arthritis and carpel tunnel syndrome thank him for his choice of gun

Templehall

April 18, 2003, 11:20 PM

I just shot one of these last weekend.

The owner absolutely loves the weight of this gun. The heavy weight, combined with 9mm, makes for a very manageable recoil. His arthritis and carpel tunnel syndrome thank him for his choice of gun

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